Monday, December 27, 2010

Pages from one of my favorite sketchbooks: the beginning of '09, the winter months.

I get very comfortable in certain sketchbooks as though they are a room I inhabit, and I hate moving on to the next when one is done. Some never end up feeling as comfortable as others. This was a good one. :)

For some reason I really love the use of old-fashioned means of transportation in patterns for walls and dresses. I used biplanes in the wallpaper of 'The Escapist'. That whole painting was built around the idea I had for biplane wallpaper.

I remember that in an old house my Grampa used to own and rent to tenants there was an entryway covered with horse and buggy wallpaper from the late 1800s. I know that for me, the appeal of trains and planes on wallpaper is just that element of the unexpected and the fact that these things, when old, are so romantic to me, but I wonder what the appeal is for others. Is it having the notion of travel in a place you call home?

"The Escapist (something for Anne)"

Just as beautiful as patterned dresses are ones that feature one large landscape. It's like wearing a painting. This dress is from an old etsy shop that's not around anymore.

And big, beautiful, graphic animals! How gorgeous is this rooster dress?! And again, I love how unusual and unexpected those roosters are on the bottom of a full-skirted white dress! This one is also an alumni of Timeless Vixen Vintage (this shop has amazing dresses. Someday I plan on owning one. :)

They're like children's book illustrations!

I hope you're all having a beautiful week! I'm excited for more snow tomorrow, getting breakfast with a friend, another post office trip, and finally, going home for Christmas.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

After leaving work today, I found this pigeon huddled in the entryway of a vacant storefront. I immediately could tell from its positioning and rigid stance that it had been there a very long time and that it was probably injured. Upon closer look, I could see that its wing had some blood on it and was possibly broken...

I still regularly think about the pigeon I was unable to save last year, and there was no way I was going to leave this pigeon alone. It is so cold out and it couldn't get itself off the freezing ground. The pigeon was so sweet and trusting, and was very alert and awake, so I was hoping it could easily be mended in the right hands.

I called the Animal Rescue League of Boston (I once put all the Boston Animal help numbers in my phone. I'm so glad I did!), and someone came within 20 minutes. The man who came was so kind. He lifted the pigeon's wing and the wound was a lot bigger than I would have imagined (he said it had probably been clipped by a hawk or falcon), but he said the injury was new and the pigeon was strong and will most likely be okay. He brought it back to ARL and it's being transferred to a place that specializes in wild life rescue in the morning. I'm just so happy to know it's at least in a warm place for the night.

In a weird way, this has eased the regrets I have felt since last fall regarding my first pigeon.

I love animals so much. They are truly one of the main sources of joy in my life. They're so innocent. I feel like it's the least I can do to do my best to look out for them.

I just want to say a very heartfelt thank you to the Animal Rescue League for taking in this pigeon. I think it's amazing that you come out and pick up animals for those of us who don't have means of getting them to you.

Monday, December 20, 2010

I walked to the post office to mail some etsy orders/Christmas packages. I really love going to the Post Office, even when the line is a mile long like it was today. There is something so old-fashioned about the whole process that I adore.
After that, I went to some vintage shops and the Brookline Booksmith, ate tomato soup, and walked home. I think it was a nice way to spend the day of first snow.

P.S. - Here is some of my favorite Christmas music (traditional and non-traditional) if you are needing any. :)
Love,
Amanda

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Every night, I have vivid dreams. Sometimes they are good, sometimes they are bad. Rarely are they about my career, which is why these two dreams stand out to me. What makes them so special is the sense of absolute completion I have in them, all related to the "job" I hold.

The interesting thing is how unique the
jobs in these dreams are, yet how similar they are to what I do and hope to do in real life. The details are always incredibly specific and crucial to the happiness I derive from the job.

The first dream was had several months ago.

In it, I was a teacher of literature, but in a very abstract way. I was teaching adults how to let literature feed them creatively in order to pursue their own artistic endeavors. I was wearing a light blue dress and the class was taught outside in a field. I remember waking up and groggily thinking, 'I need a light blue dress so I can teach literature.' (light blue has always been the color of my literary-side in my very synesthesia-oriented brain).

The second dream occurred last night. In it, I was a writer of essays, and all of my essays revolved around color. In the dream, I lived in a large house on the beach with several friends. I was barefoot and drinking tea, and had a beautiful wooden desk surrounded by mosquito netting. I was writing about a pale green-blue. The contents of these "essays" were highly personal, but they were written as though my opinion on the colors were scientific facts. In the dream, I was blissfully wrapped up in the fact that this was my job.

I love the contentment I felt in both of these dreams. I love what I do in my waking life, and I know I'm on the right path (and it is always evolving), and I feel like I am ever-slowly reaching that contented feeling. So, what I take from these dreams (and mostly these are things I have always known, anyway) is that I want to teach and I want to write, I love encouraging others to find themselves through literature (as it has so well served me in such a way), and blue truly is my favorite color on so many levels.

I do not yet own a physical copy, but I cannot wait to see the inside and will be sure to share some photos. I hand-painted the illustration for the cover, but did strictly line drawings for the interior, which were digitally colored by an amazing designer named Josh Grieve. .

Josh sent me these a while back - these are the first two pages. They were my favorite to draw, and I'm madly in love with how he colored them. Everything has an antique-y, old-map type feel, which is exactly what I'd hoped for.

I absolutely love Three Graces. I've done their bi-annual Tiny Show 4 times now, and every time I go I am blown away by how beautiful the space is. The back windows look over the ocean and the front door faces downtown Portsmouth. I'm very grateful to be having a show in such a lovely place.

I'll keep you all posted on the progress of the show, new pieces, etc!

Monday, December 13, 2010

I have a deep-seated love for 60s girl groups in general. In 8th grade, my sister Courtney, myself, and our friends Abigail and Lindsey (also sisters, still two of our best friends :) would constantly listen to a CD of girl group songs from the 1960s, and we even recorded our own version of "Leader of the Pack" by the Shangri Las.

"Be my Baby" by The Ronettes is one of my favorites.

Thank you to everyone who came to Mass Market! I hope you all have a lovely Monday.

Novels for Keeping

Visit my Website

about

I'm a young artist and writer who grew up among animals, paints, and books. I am a lover of trees, dogs, short stories, vintage everything, really long walks, and my cat, Tiger. In addition to being an artist, I work with children. Thank you for stopping by!

featured on

Depending Upon the Nature of the Beast

The Foxtrot Code

August 28th - September 18th 2009 at Space 242 in Boston, MA

My first fully-illustrated children's book, written by Derrick Brown

My art on Jerry Fish's new album, The Beautiful Untrue

All artwork, writing, and personal photos are protected by copyright and cannot be reproduced or copied without permission from Amanda Atkins. If you'd like to use an image in a blog post, just link back!